Dole to sell 5,000 acres

The land is in addition to the 2,000 acres it has already agreed to sell this summer

Dole Food Co. Inc. is putting another 5,000 acres up for sale this month in Central Oahu.

The California-based land-owner and producer has hired CB Richard Ellis Inc. to market and sell specific, non-core parcels, the company said yesterday.

The parcels are a mix of agricultural, farmed and leased land, though Dole hasn't farmed the land itself for more than 10 years, said Marty Ordman, spokesman for Dole Food.

"We're always evaluating and looking at underutilized or non-performing assets," he said.

Ordman wouldn't disclose the asking price or exact location of the land.

Dole earlier this year said it is selling 2,000 acres of land between Wahiawa and Waialua for about $39 million to an undisclosed buyer to raise cash for the company, which recorded a $58 million net loss in 2007. The sale is expected to close between July and September.

Dole owns a total of 28,000 acres on Oahu, with 2,700 acres used for its pineapple operation and 195 acres used for coffee and cacao.

The company is one of the state's largest private landowners and one of its largest pineapple growers, as well as a producer of coffee and cacao.